By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The attendance of 7,506 spectators is set to be a record for a Sweden national team game, as mentioned on FIBA.
The sellout against Turkey is all the more impressive as the Swedes opened their World Cup Qualifiers Group B campaign with two losses in November, at home to Ukraine and away to Latvia in Riga.
Sweden’s ability to sell out the game more than a month before it takes place is further testament to the power of the national team and how it can help the sport grow in popularity.
Something else that is impressive for Sweden is that the fans seem to have a growing connection with the young teams that coach Vedran Bosnic is putting on the court. They are seeing an exciting group of rising stars, many that are getting experience in tough leagues around Europe like Spain-based Marcus Eriksson (Herbalife Gran Canaria), Nicholas Spires (Monbus Obradoiro), Tobias Borg (Bilbao Basket) and Ludde Hakanson (Movistar Estudiantes).
Though Utah Jazz forward Jonas Jerebko is the most popular Swedish basketball player, his absence has had no negative effect on the fans that simply want to watch the national side play.
Photo credit: FIBA